Straightening machine



Oct. 15, 1929. LE. DEL OG HlA 1,731,650

STRAIGHTENING MACHINE Filed April 7. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l i- 4 E :g' a Y i so 43- 1. -3.3 J Yn 24 26 az'g/ Fl E I INVENTOk.

96M; 21%; BY

A TTORNE Y.

Oct. 15, 1929. g. DELOGHIA 1,731,650

STRAIGH'IENING MACHINE Filed April '7, 192'! 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 4} MW @lmnmun 32 I); 29

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A TTORNE Y.

: INVENTOR.

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Patented Get. 15, 3 .929

entree stares PATENT orricE LOUIS E. DELOG-EEA, 0F AGAWAM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO PERKINS MACHINE AND GEAR COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MIASSACHUSETTS Application filed April 7,

My invention relates to improvements in machines for straightening short shafts after they have been subjected to the heating treatment, or even before being so subjected, and other objects, and consists in general of supporting or holding means, centering mechanism, and bending means, for the work, the construction and combination of the same being new and novel, together with such other parts and members as may be necessary or desirable in order to render the machine complete and serviceable in every respect, all as hereinafter set forth.

The primary object of my invention is to produce a machine, of the class described, which is comparatively simple, both in construction and operation, inexpensive, durable, convenient, and capable of acting successfully on the Work adapted to be handled by said machine, and of accurately and expeditiously detecting irregularities and removing them from said work.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the following description.

I attain the objects and secure the advantages of my invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which s Figure 1 is atop plan of a straightening machine that embodies apractical form of my invention; Fig. 2, a front elevation or" said machine, with parts broken away and omitted; Fig. 3, a right-hand end elevation of the machine without the bed block at that end; 4-, an enlarged sectional detail, taken I on lines 4el, looking in the direction o'l-the associated arrow, in Fig. 1; 5, a side elevation of the innerend portion of the op-' erating lever or handle; Fig. 6, an enlarged side elevation, partially broken away, of one of the supporting or holding members for the work;l ig. 7, a top plan of the wedge block which forms part of the centering 'STRAIGHTEN'ING MACHINE 1927. Serial No. 181,883.

chine as herein illustrated. In the bed 1 are two slots 3. The slots 3 are in line with each other, and located a short distance back from the flat edge of the bed 1, with which edge said slots are parallel; The slots 3 have at their outer ends wider portions 5, 5.

Two vertical work holders 6 are located in the slots 3, and may be moved in said slots to change the distance between said holders, thus to accommodate them to work of dillerent lengths. Each of the enlarged portions 5 at the outer ends of the slots 3 is of a size and shape that permit either holder 6 to be thrust through said portion and moved inwardly to position said holder in the narrow portion of the slot, and to permit the holder as well to be removed from the bed 1. Provision is thus made for the employment of different holders, and consequently for the handling of a wider range of work than would be possibl? if only one pair of holders could be llSGQ.

Eachholder 6 has a bearing 7 below and a head 8 above, and there is a slot 9 in said hOlder above said bearing to receive a wedge 10. The upper edges of the bearing 7 provide shoulders that are adapted to engage from below the longitudinal edges of the slots 3 in which the holder is located, and the wedge '10 is adapted to be passed through the slot 9, between the'top of the bed 1 and the top of said second-named slot, and forcedtightly into place. Thewedge 10 thus draws the shoulders at the top of the bearing 7 tightly against the under side of the bed, and so secure the holder to said bed. The top of the slot 9 tapers to correspond with the upper edge of thewedge 10, which edge is tapered. Extending transversely through each bearing 7 is an annular opening 11, and extending transverselythrough each head 8 is an opening 12. The opening 12 is angular at the top to provide two bearing points, instead of being arcuate and this providing only one bearing point, for the work.

Both work holders, including the two wedges are alike. 1

Upon loosening either wedgel0, -the holder 6, of which said wedge forms a part, can be moved for adjustment to whatever extent may be necessary within the confines of the slot 3 below said wedge, and then secured by again driving the wedge tightly into place.

A horizontal shaft 13 is journaled in the work-holder bearings 7, and held therein against endwise movement by two collars 14 secured to said shaft outside of said bearings. The collars 14 are secured to the shaft 13 by screws or other means that can be loosened and retightened whenever either or both holders 6 are adjusted in their slots 3, or in case of removal and replacement or substitut-ion.

Mounted on the shaft 13, in the center thereof, is an eccentric or cam hub 15 from which extends forwardly a lever or handle 16. The hub 15 is held in place on the shaft 13 by and between two more collars 14.

A vertical straightening plunger 17 is loosely mounted in an opening in the bed 1, with the bottom of said plunger resting and bearing on the cam hub 15. The plunger 17 has an internal screw-threaded, axial passage 18 therein, which passage opens through the top thereof, and a head 19 has an externally screwthreaded shank 20 to enter said passage. Thus the plunger 17 is equipped with an adjustable head (19) to bear on the work in the holders 6, it being understood the said head is below a piece of work, such as a shaft, placed in the openings 12 in the workholder heads 8.

The eccentric or cam part of the hub 15 is so located that, when the handle 16 is depressed or swung downward, said hub causes the plunger 17 to be elevated, and when said handle is swung upward 881d plunger de- 'scends.

threaded below said bed to receive thereon two nuts 22. A lever 23 is bolted or otherwise secured at its forward terminal to the under side of the handle 16, andextends rearwardly to engage or embrace that portion of the rod 21 that is between the nuts 22. Obviously, therefore, when the handle 16 is swung downwardly the rear terminal of the lever 23 is swung upwardly and, being in engagement with the upper nut 2, elevates the rod 21. The downward movement of the lever 23 at the rear end, incident to the upward movement of the handle 16, permits the rod 21 to descend. The amount of moven'ientthus i mparted to the rod 21 through the medium of the lever may be varied by adjustment of the nuts 22, and especially of the upper nut 22, on the rod 21.

Secured to the top of the rod 21 is a wedge block 24 having in the opposite narrow sides thereof, in a plane parallel with the longitudinal, central, vertical plane-of the machine, slots 2525 which diverge from above downwardly. The slots 25 open through the top of the block 24. Two separator arms 26 are pivotally connected adjacentto their lower ends, as at 27-27, with a horizontal carrier bar 28. The arms or separators 26 are behind the bar 28, and extend upwardly and convergently from the pivots 27, through the slots 25 in the block 24, and normally stand with their upper terminals quite close together, if not in actual contact, the position of said block determining the relative positions of said upper terminals.

The carrier bar 28 is supported at the ends by and secured to two angular brackets 29, and said brackets in turn are supported on and secured to the bed 1, adjacent to the ends thereof. Two bolts 30 secure the brackets 29 to the bed 1, said bolts passing downwardly through slots in the horizontal portions of said brackets to be tapped into the bed 1, one of such slots being shown at 31 in Fig. 4. The slots 31 enable the brackets 39 to be adjusted forwardly and backwardly on the bed 1 as occasion requires. The carrier bar 28 is secured to the upstanding parts of the brackets 29, on the front ends thereof, by means of two bolts 32. Washers 33 are interposed between the heads of the bolts 32 and the uprights of the brackets 29, and also between the heads of the bolts 30 and the longitudinal parts of said brackets. A vertical slot 34, Fig. 4, is provided in the upstanding part of each bracket 29 for the passage therethrough of one of the bolts 32, the bolt being introduced from behind and at the forward terminal tapped into the bar 28. In some instances it may be desirable either to change the elevation of the bar 28, or to position the same out of the horizontal, and either of these adjustments can be made readily upon loosening the bolts 32, arranging the bar 28 at the re-.

quired elevation or inclination, and retightening said bolts. The slots 34 afford ample spaces for the required movement therein of the bolts 32 when the bar 28 is adjusted. The bar 28 is recessed vertically in its central portion, as is best shown at 35 in Fig. 4, to accommodate thewedge block 24.

Extending longitudinally of the carrier bar 28, on the front side and in the center thereof, is a dove-tail projection 36, and slid- "ingly mounted on said projection adjacent to each end thereof is a carrier 37 for a centering member or center 38. The axes of the centers 38 are in line with each other, and said centers are designed toengage prick points or small indentations in the axial centers of the ends of the work. The opposite ends of aspring 39 are attached to the carriers 37, and said spring has a constant tendency to draw said carriers toward each other. moda-te the centering mechanism, ust described in part, to unusual types of work and enable the same to be held between the centers 38 that provision is made for adjusting the carrier bar 28 on the brackets 29, of which previous mention has been made.

It is to accom A tubular member40 is placed erect on the bed 1 behind the wedge block 24, and passing through said member and through said bed is a rod 41. The rod 41 is screw-threaded at the terminals which extend respectively below the bed 1, to receive thereon a nut 42, and above the member 40, to receive thereon the rear terminals of a pair of horizontal arms 43, and a nut 44. The nut 42 holds the rod 41 against upward displacement, and the nut 44 holds the rear terminals of the arms 43 on the tubular member 40, with the rod 41 as a pivot, and, of course, prevents the rod from dropping down. The arms 43 extend forwardly from their pivotal connection onto the top of the carrier bar 28, and said arms at their forward terminals are held in place on said bar by means of a strap 45 which has its ends fastened by bolts or'other suitable means to the bar. .Suflicient space is provided beneath the strap 45 for the forward-terminal portions of the arms 43 to move outwardly or away from each other as far as may be necessary. Normally the arms 43 are ap- I proximately parallel with each other, except at the rear terminals where said arms curve toward each other and overlap to provide hub portions to receive the rod 41.

Each arm 43 in its forward terminal is pivotally connected at 46 with the inner terminal of a bar or link 47. The links 47 are mounted above the carriers 37, and each of said links adjacent to its outer terminal is pivotally connected, as at 48, with one of said carriers. There may be a plurality of openings 49 in each link 47 for the insertion therein of the pivot 48. By changing the pivots 48 from the outermost openings into others of said openings in the links 47, the minimum amount of separation of the center carriers 37 is decreased accordingly, but the amount of movement imparted by said links to the carriers is not cut down to an extent sufficientto defeat the purpose of the carriers. Changes of this character are required to accommodate'the centers 38 to work of different lengths.

When the wedge block forces the separators 26 into a more nearly vertical position, said separators rockblock 24 is elevated, said remembered that said links are pivotally connected with said arms and with said carriers. Since the spring 39 tends to draw the center carriers 37 toward each other, upon the descent of the block 24, said carriers, acting through the links 47, swing the arms 43 r on the rod 41 toward each other at their forward ends, the separators 26 at this time rocking on their pivots 27 toward each other at their upper ends. The parts and members are now disposed in initial positions.

An indicator 50 having, underneath the same with its axis in the same vertlcal plane with the axes of the shaft 13, centers 38, and openings 12, and in the transverse center of machine, a feeler 51, said indicator being carried at the forward end of a horizontal rod 52, which rod is supported by means of a sleeve 53 from a vertical rod 54. The rod 54 has its lower end set in the bed 1. The sleeve 53 has a sliding fit on the rod 54 and the rod 42 may have a sliding fit in said sleeve,

to enable the indicator 50 to be easily and quickly adjusted relative to the work.

Although the operation of this machine as a whole will be quite well understood from the foregoing description, a brief description of the same is given below.

Assuming that all necessary adjustments have been made, the piece of work, such as a short shaft, which, however, is not shown, is inserted in the openings 12 in the work holder heads 8, by introducing one end of the shaft into one of said openings from a position between said heads, and then introducing the other end of said shaft into the other of said openings. Meanwhile the handle 16 is swung downward a sufficient dis tance to cause the lever 23 to lift the rod 21 and with it the wedge block 24 and thereby, through the medium of the separators 26, the arms 43, and the links 47, force the carriers 37 outwardly, against the resiliency of the spring 39in order to move the centers 38 out of the way of said shaft. At this time the plunger 17 is elevated slightly but not far enough to interfere with the shaft. As soon as the shaft is in place in the holders, the.

handle 16 is swung upwardly to enable the carriers 37 to move inwardly and with the centers 38' engage the centering recesses in the ends of the shaft. The shaft, which usually is smaller in cross section than either opening 12, is now supported solely by and between the centers 38. The indicator 50, if not already in posit-ion for its feeler 51 to rest on said shaft, is moved into such position', and the shaft is slowly rotated or partially rotated to discover wherein is located and the amount of any irregularity or bend therein. Then the handle 16 is swung downwardly approximately to its full extent, with the result that the centers 38 are withdrawn from engagement with the shaft, the plunger 17 is forced upwardly by the cam hub 15 with the head 19 of said plunger against the shaft, the force exerted being suiiicient to bend the shaft. This bond is in the direction to correct the depression in the top of the shaft, or, in other Words, to straighten or tend to straighten the shaft. After this the handle 16 is swung upwardly to cause the centers 38 to engage the shaft a second time, and said shaft, wit-l1 the feeler 51 in contact therewith, is further rotated or partially rotated to discover any other irregularity or bend. Upon the discovery and location of another irregularity or bend, the shaft is subjected to further action on the part of the plunger 17. These operations are repeated as often as may be necessary to correct all irregularities in the shaft and make the same straight. At the end of the straightening ooerat-ion the shaft is removed from the holders, while the centers 38 are disposed in positions where they do not interfere with such removal. Another .shaft can now be placed in the holders and straightened in the manner just explained.

More or less change in the shape, size, construction, and arrangement of some or all of the parts of this machine, in addition to those hereinbefore specifically pointed out, may be made, without departing from the spirit of my invention or extending the scope of what is claimed.

What ll claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a straightening machine, holding means, straightening means, and centering mechanism, for the work, said. centering means comprising separable work-engaging parts, and a single operating lever for said straightening means and said centering means, said lever being adapted to actuate said separable parts to release the Work.

2. In a straightening machine, holding means, straightening means, and centering mechanisnn for the work, and a single operating lev provided with parts by means of which said straightening means and said centering mechanism are actuated simultaneously when saidlever is swung on its axis.

8. In a straightening machine, holding means, straightening means, and centering mechanism, for the work, and a handle hav ing a hub for actuating said straightening means into contact with said work, and also having an extension for causing said centering mechanism to be disposed with the centering members out of position to contact with said Worl sion to actuate said mechanism, whereby said centering members are separated to release the work when said plunger is actuated to straighten the work.

5. In a straightening machine, a bed, a carrier bar supported from said bed, springpressed carriers slidingly'mounted' an said bar, and provided with centering members for the work, a wedge block, means to move said. block, arms pivotally supported from said bed, links pivotally connecting said carriers with said arms, and separators pivotally connected with said. bar and in engagement with said arms, said separators being operatively engaged by said block.

6. In a straightening machine, a bed, a lever supported from said bed, a carrier bar supported from said bed, spring-pressed carriers slidingly arranged on said bar, and provided with centering members for the work, and means operated by said lever to actuate said carriers against the resiliency of their spring.

7. In a straightening machine, a bed, a sl aft supported from said bed, a lever mount on said shaft, a carrier bar'supported from said bed, spring-pressed carriers slidingly arranged on said bar, and provided with centering members for the work, arms pivotally supported from said bed, separators pivotally connected with said bar and in operative posi.-

tion relative to said arms, links pivotally connected with said carriers and with said arms, and a rod slidingly arranged in said bed and adapted to be operated by said first-named lever, said rod being provided at the top with a wedge block in engagement with said separators.

8. The combination, in a straightening machine, with a bed, work holders supported by, extending above and below, and adjustable in said bed, a shaft ournaled in said holders below said bed, and a handle having a cam hub mounted on said shaft, of a straightening plunger resting on said hub and sliding in said'bed, saidplunger having a head in.

position to act on work in said holders.

9. The combination, in a straightening machine, with a bed provided with work holders having openings therein to receive thework, which openings are angular, a shaft supported from said bed, and a handle havinga cam hub mounted on said shaft, of a straightening plunger resting on said hub and sliding in said bed, said plunger having a head in position to act on Workin said holders, and with each of said holders to form a threepoint contact with said work.

10. The combination, in a straightening machine, with a bed having slots therein, slotted holders located in the slots in said bed, supporting members passing through the slots in said holders above said bed, a shaft journaled in said holders below saidbed, and a handle having a cam hub mounted on said shaft, of a straightening plunger resting on said hub and sliding in said bed, said plunger having a head in position to act on work in said holders.

11. The combination, in a straightening machine, with a bed having slots therein, slotted work holders receivable in the slots in said bed, and having parts to engage the under side of the bed, wedges passing through the slots in said holders about said bed, a shaft journaled in said holders below said bed, and a handle having a cam hub mounted on said shaft, of a straightening plunger resting on said hub and sliding in said bed, said plunger having a head in position to act on the work in said holders.

12. The combination, in a straightening machine, with a bed provided with work holders, a shaft supported from said bed, a handle having a cam hub mounted on said shaft, said handle being provided with .a lever, and a straightening plunger resting on said hub and sliding in said bed, said plunger having a head in position to act on work in said holders, of a carrier bar supported from said bed, spring-pressed carriers slidingly arranged on said bar, and provided with centering members for the work, and means operatively connected with said lever to actuate said carriers against the resiliency of their spring, when said lever is actuated in one direction.

13. The combination, in a straightening machine, with a bed provided with a shaft supported from said bed, a handle having a cam hub mounted on said shaft, said handle being provided with a lever, and a plunger resting on said hub and sliding in said bed, said plunger having a head in position to act on work in said holders, of brackets secured to said bed, a carrier bar secured to said brackets, means to enable said bar to be adjusted on said brackets, spring-pressed carriers slidingly arranged on said bar, and provided with centering members for the work, and means operatively connected with said lever to actuate said carriers against the resiliency of their spring, when said lever is actuated in the other direction.

14. The combination, in a straightening machine, with a bed provided with work holders, a shaft supported from said bed, a handle having a cam hub mounted on said shaft, said handle being provided with a lever, and a straighteningplunger resting on said hub and sliding in said bed, said plunger having a head in position to act on work in said holders, of a carrier bar supported from said bed, spring-pressed carriers slidingly arranged on said bar, and provided with centering members for the work, arms pivotally supported from said bed, separators pivotally connected with said bar, and in operative position relative to said arms, links pivotally connected with said carriers and with said arms, and a rod slidingly arranged in said bed, and adapted to be operated by said lever, said rod being provided at the top with a wedge block in engagement with said separators.

15. The combination, in a straightening machine, with a bed provided with work holders, a shaft supported from said bed, a lever mounted on said shaft, an indicator provided with a feeler, and means to support said indicator in operative position relative to work in said holders, of spring-pressed centering mechanism operating against the force of its spring and said lever, a shaft supported from said bed, a lever mounted on said shaft, a carrier bar supported from said bed, spring-pressed carriers slidingly mounted on said bar, and provided with centering members, and means operated by said lever, for actuating said carriers against the resiliency of their spring.

LOUIS E. DELOGHIA. 

